Around the IJsselmeer

Around Ijsselmeer

Trading towns, dreamlike harbors and the peaceful sea.

Once the Dutch separated the frequently wild Zuidersee with a dam from the North Sea. This is how they have created the IJsselmeer. It is a peaceful water and it's beautiful: a paradise for sailors, kite- and windsurfers, which still appears with the charm of the sea. The mostly flat region is not least a paradise for cyclists. The optional seven or eight-day round trip takes you through national parks with some rare animals and plants, through picturesque fishing villages and cities, which have experienced splendid times as commercial metropolises. Amsterdam is one of your destinations on the longer journey. Here you can see too that special mixture of fascinating culture and the charm of the water that characterizes the landscape around the IJsselmeer. Enjoy best conditions for a fantastic cycling holiday.

Itinerary

Individual arrival in Harderwijk. In the afternoon you get some travel information and your bike (if booked). Discover the medieval Hanseatic city. A walk through the city leads you almost always past the Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk). It is a basilica with a three-part elevation from the 14th and 15th century. You stay one night in Harderwijk.

Look forward to the Arkemheen-Eemland National Park and the wide, flat landscape with its extraordinary vegetation. Black-tailed godwits strut across the moor. You cycle alongside the banks of the Randmeren to Huizen, the twin village on the Eemmeer with costumes and fishing museum. Naarden is a beautiful city in the green Gooi region and one of the best-preserved fortress cities in Europe. It was one of the most important defenses of the New Dutch Waterline, which still amazes people today. You stay overnight in Bussum/Naarden. (approx. 50-55 km)

During your tour alongside the IJsselmeer, you reach the medieval moated castle "Muidenschloss". Your way leads you to Amsterdam. Enjoy the historic buildings, the magnificent museums and the cozy atmosphere. Take a tour on the canals, walk through the Vondelpark, visit the floating flower market and shop in the old city center. After a few kilometers you reach the typical old Dutch town of Monnickendam, a real water city. Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the IJsselmeer to Volendam or Katwoude. Enjoy your breaks in traditional fishing villages, which have a past as thriving commercial cities. Volendam is famous for its costumes and is said to be home of a delicious smoked eel. You stay overnight in Volendam/proximity.(approx. 55 km)

In Edam, you will soon discover that the town has more to give than the world-famous cheese. Hoorn is a small shopper's paradise with numerous terrace cafes and restaurants to enjoy and rest. The picturesque town of Enkhuizen attracts thousands of tourists every year. Some love it because of its many historic buildings and monuments, others because of its harbor and the optimal water sports facilities. Take a city walk to visit the Zuiderzeemuseum with its replicated old Zuiderzee town. You have an overnight stay in Enkhuizen. (approx. 53-57 km)

On a ferry (not incl.) you cross the waves of the IJsselmeer before you disembark in Stavoren. Discover the nostalgic charm of the oldest of the eleven Frisian cities in the Netherlands. You cycle through the gently sloping and wooded Gaasterland with its cliffs to Lemmer or the proximity. The cozy center with its many terraces right on the water, the cafes and the many attractions, such as the old lock represent the zest for life in the town. You stay overnight in Lemmer or the proximity. (approx. 28-48 km)

You cycle through the national park "De Weerribben". Not only canoeists love this bog area, which is home of rare plants and animals - due to the variety of canals. One of the jewels of the place Blokzijl is the historic harbor area. It is not surprising that it is a protected heritage. The natural landscape De Wieden borders on the Weerribben. Together they form the largest contiguous flat moor in Western Europe. Zwartsluis (Black Lock) took over the role of the transit port for peat in the 18th century. Kampen has a tradition for centuries in the fields of trade and shipping and this is still evident today. In this Hanseatic city, you will see more than 500 monuments, including the Sint Nicolaaskerk, the Gothic Huis, the city gates and a replica of the medieval merchant ship 'De Kamper Hanze Kogge'. You stay overnight in Zwartsluis/Kampen. (approx. 48-68 km)

Cycling alongside the dam you reach Elburg. The traditional sailing ships, which are originally called “Botte”, were formerly used for fishing. On your journey alongside the Veluwemeer you come back to your starting point: Harderwijk. Here you start your individual return journey or the prolongation. No more accommodation in Harderwijk, optional you can book additional nights. (approx. 43-65 km)

The route

Easy - The path quality is above average. In Holland, there is a two-lane and paved bike path along almost every street.